Angora Goats
We have a small herd of angora goats for their fleece. We started out with a handful that were being given away. They had not been shorn for two years, could hardly see and had terrible urine scald. But after cleaning up we did find goats underneath! I love angoras, their mohair fleece is lovely for spinning and they have nice temperaments (well most of them do, we have had a few nutters). They have to be shorn twice a year, which is a whole day job each time. We have to promise the shearer a hugh lunch spread so he keeps coming back because no-one really likes to shear goats!
Fibre prices were quiet good when we purchased our second mob of angoras (about 60), but fell pretty soon afterwards. We have just tried to keep the herd at about 50-70 animals for the last four years. Although we have debated getting rid of them all, I really do like them and convince Chris to keep them (although when they are having one of their bad fencing months they get pretty close to all getting sold!).
The are interesting goats in that they tend to be easier to contain than dairy goats (which are notorious fencers), but when they do get naughty, they can be pretty sneaky about it! Like going across the road to a neighbouring orchard after we have left for work and being home before we get home! We only found out because we were late for work one morning!!!!! Naughty goats!!!
I also have a couple dairy goats, and we were recently given a pet boer goat called Dora who is a real personality!
Fibre prices were quiet good when we purchased our second mob of angoras (about 60), but fell pretty soon afterwards. We have just tried to keep the herd at about 50-70 animals for the last four years. Although we have debated getting rid of them all, I really do like them and convince Chris to keep them (although when they are having one of their bad fencing months they get pretty close to all getting sold!).
The are interesting goats in that they tend to be easier to contain than dairy goats (which are notorious fencers), but when they do get naughty, they can be pretty sneaky about it! Like going across the road to a neighbouring orchard after we have left for work and being home before we get home! We only found out because we were late for work one morning!!!!! Naughty goats!!!
I also have a couple dairy goats, and we were recently given a pet boer goat called Dora who is a real personality!
Post shearing, pre kidding (just).
Winky, a pet for life after having survived fox attack at three days old.
Springtime babies everywhere!
Waiting their turn
A broken foot won't excuse you from helping out on shearing day!
This was our very first fleece bale ready to be shipped to AMMO
